Best LLC Service in Illinois (2026): Top Picks for IL Formation
Budget pick: Bizee - $0 service fee + $150 state fee. Free year of registered agent. Shares data with marketing partners (caveat required).
$39 service fee + $150 state fee = $189 total year one. Registered agent service included free for year one, then $125/year. Privacy-focused, family-owned, in business since 1998. Does not sell your data.
Form Your Illinois LLC with Northwest →Lowest 3-year cost we found: Northwest $289 vs Bizee $298 vs ZenBusiness $497 (service fees; state fees extra). Northwest also puts its address on your public filings instead of yours where the state allows.Illinois LLC At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Formation document | Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) |
| Filing agency | Illinois Secretary of State |
| State filing fee | $150 |
| Processing time (online) | Typically same to next business day; 24-hour expedited available for $100 |
| Annual/biennial requirement | Annual Report, due before the first day of your anniversary month each year. |
| Annual/biennial fee | $75 (paid to Secretary of State) |
| State income tax | Flat 4.95% individual income tax on pass-through income (2026 rate) |
| Franchise tax | No franchise tax on LLCs. LLCs taxed as partnerships pay the 1.5% Personal Property Replacement Tax. |
| Registered agent required | Yes, physical Illinois address required |
Illinois compliance note: The $75 Annual Report is due before the first day of your anniversary month (the month you originally formed). Missing it makes your LLC delinquent and triggers a $100 late penalty, with administrative dissolution for continued non-filing. Confirm your formation service sends reminders ahead of your anniversary month.
Illinois LLC Formation Services Compared
| Service | IL Service Fee | IL State Fee | RA Year 1 | RA Renewal | Year-1 Total | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest | $39 | $150 | $0 (included) | $125/yr | $189 | ~$589 |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $0 | $150 | $99 (add-on) | $199/yr | $150 + $99 RA | Higher |
| Bizee Basic* | $0 | $150 | $0 (included) | $149/yr | $150 | Moderate |
| Inc Authority | $0 | $150 | $0 (included) | $249/yr | $150 | Moderate |
| LegalZoom Pro | $249 | $150 | Not included | $249/yr | Highest | Highest |
*Bizee Basic includes articles of organization filing only. RA included free year one then $149/year. Note: Bizee shares customer data with marketing partners. LegalZoom registered agent is never included in any plan; auto-renewal traps apply on add-on services. Rates verified October 2026.
Northwest Registered Agent: Top Pick for Illinois
Northwest Registered Agent
Service fee: $39 • Illinois state fee: $150 • Year-1 total: $189
Northwest has been forming LLCs since 1998. They are family-owned, have an A+ BBB rating, and maintain physical offices in all 50 states. They do not sell customer data - a meaningful differentiator in an industry where data selling is common. The $39 formation fee includes a free year of registered agent service (then $125/year), an operating agreement template, and same-day filing.
For Illinois specifically: Northwest files the Articles of Organization directly with the Illinois Secretary of State and sends compliance reminders for your Annual Report ahead of your anniversary month. Their Business Identity suite also includes business address and phone services.
What is not included: EIN assistance is a $50 add-on. Get your EIN free at IRS.gov in 15 minutes.
Form Your Illinois LLC with Northwest →ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness
Service fee: $0 (Starter) • Illinois state fee: $150 • RA: $99 add-on in year 1, then $199/year (auto-renewing)
ZenBusiness offers $0 formation on its Starter plan, but registered agent service is not included: it costs $99 for the first year, then $199/year. This makes ZenBusiness more expensive than Northwest on a 3-year basis for most Illinois LLC owners who need registered agent service. ZenBusiness has a good dashboard and compliance alert system, but the auto-renewing subscriptions require attention at sign-up.
View ZenBusiness →Bizee (formerly Incfile)
Bizee
Service fee: $0 (Basic) • Illinois state fee: $150 • RA: Free year 1, then $149/year
Bizee offers $0 formation with a free first year of registered agent service. After year one, RA renews at $149/year. Important caveat: Bizee shares customer data with marketing partners. If data privacy matters to your business or personal information, this is a meaningful drawback. Bizee is a reasonable budget option for price-focused formation.
View Bizee →Inc Authority
Inc Authority
Service fee: $0 • Illinois state fee: $150 • RA: Free year 1, then $249/year
Inc Authority offers $0 formation with registered agent included free for year one. The year-two RA renewal at $249/year is higher than Bizee ($149) or Northwest ($125), making it more expensive long-term despite the free formation. Inc Authority upsells aggressively on add-on packages during checkout.
View Inc Authority →LegalZoom
LegalZoom
Service fee: $249+ • Illinois state fee: $150 • RA: $249/year, not included in any plan
LegalZoom is the most expensive option: $249 for the Pro plan and registered agent is never included at any price point, adding another $249/year. LegalZoom also has auto-renewal traps on bookkeeping and attorney trial add-ons. The brand recognition does not translate to better formation quality than Northwest at $39. Not recommended for Illinois LLC formation.
Read LegalZoom Review →DIY Filing in Illinois
You can file your Articles of Organization directly with the Illinois Secretary of State without a formation service. The process requires:
- Searching the Illinois business entity database for name availability
- Completing and submitting the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) online at the Illinois Secretary of State business portal
- Paying the $150 filing fee
- Designating yourself or a professional as registered agent
DIY filing saves the $39 service fee but requires tracking compliance deadlines yourself. For most new LLC owners, the $39 Northwest fee is worth it for same-day filing, compliance reminders, and a year of registered agent service included.
Frequently Asked Questions
The state filing fee for Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) is $150. Using Northwest Registered Agent adds $39 in service fees, bringing the year-one total to $189 before later registered agent renewals are considered.
Yes. Every Illinois LLC must file an Annual Report with the Secretary of State and pay a $75 fee before the first day of its anniversary month each year. Missing the deadline makes the LLC delinquent and triggers a $100 late penalty.
No. Illinois does not impose a corporate franchise tax on LLCs. However, LLCs taxed as partnerships are subject to the 1.5% Personal Property Replacement Tax on net income.
Illinois imposes a flat 4.95% individual income tax on LLC pass-through income as of 2026 rates.
Online filings through the Illinois Secretary of State are typically processed within one to a few business days. A 24-hour expedited service is available for an additional $100.
Related Guides
- Northwest Registered Agent Review
- Bizee Review
- Compare All LLC Formation Services
- All State LLC Formation Guides
Why I Choose Northwest Registered Agent
After forming 3 LLCs myself and helping clients through the process, I keep coming back to Northwest Registered Agent. Here is why:
- Remarkable Customer Support: Quick, human responses every time.
- Caring & Privacy-Focused: Genuine service with full respect for your privacy.
- Lightning-Fast Formation: Often faster than promised.
- Incredible Value: $39 includes free business address, mail scanning, phone line, business email, domain name, website, and brand protection.
- Clear & Transparent: No hidden fees or surprises.
Ready to form your business? Choose Northwest today!
In his 22 years of entrepreneurship, Frédéric Deltour has founded, grown and managed seven NGO's and international companies across diverse industries, including 3 LLCs formed using Northwest Registered Agent. He is a recognized therapist trainer, a published author, and has been featured in Le Parisien, IMDb, Goodreads, and international encyclopedias.
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